FBC New Worship Center Blog

January Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:51:14 +0000

During the month of December, the building team selected the winning bidder to our Church’s request for the site dirt work. After the contractor’s consideration about weather and time lines, they have chosen to begin the dirt work this Spring.

We are still moving forward in seeking grants, requesting quotes, surveying contractors for other work, and more. If you have any questions about the process thus far, please talk to Jim Richardson, Pastor Wally Holt, or any other member of the Building Team. This January the team is continuing to meet to work on progressing our building project.

May God be with us in an empowering and visible way this new year 2012.

December Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:46:01 +0000

During the month of November, the site elevation work was completed and the building team has received bids in response to our request for the site dirt work. We are excited to see the process for ground breaking is nearing its start. However, as we enter winter, we have begun to anticipate that the actual dirt work may have to begin in the spring after the ground thaws and not this month of December. The actual start time will be determined by the availability of the company who we contract with for the work.

We continue to survey interested companies on the steel work that needs to be completed for the building frame. Mr. Charlie Fink, our project engineer, is assisting us in reviewing specifications. The building team is continuing to review the options with onsite visits to current facilities serviced by the interested companies.

We are moving forward in the process. Thank you Lord for providing us direction, and helping us to be accountable in every step along the way. Thank you for helping us to stay strong in our faith, and in our encouragement of one another, so that we may continue to make progress as a church – not to build a building, but to grow a church of faithful people. Do not let this building be a distraction, but we pray Lord, that you let it be your victory through us that we are reaffirmed that in all things by faith you can do anything. We will give you praise and worship as you enable us to serve you. Amen.

November Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:23:23 +0000

Praise the Lord, FBC’s property at 1515 Candy Lane is now annexed into the City! Last month our petition for annexation was voted on and accepted.

This past month the Building Team, in coordination with the Board of Trustees, has hired Mr. Charlie Fink as the Project Manager for FBC’s new building project. He is already giving us valuable advice and suggestions, and is working with us in our next steps. The team has been consulting with the contracted local engineering firm to complete the site elevation work that is necessary before we can choose a company to do the dirt work on the construction site. The team has selected a company for performing the soil tests which are needed to determine the building’s foundation footings. The site elevation work and the soil tests are expected to be completed in the next few weeks, after which we will be submitting bid requests to companies for doing the dirt work on the site. Also the team is working to select a company for bids on the steel work for the building frame.

We have received preliminary site construction drawings from the architect, and the engineer is already working with those drawings to determine the water and sewage connections we will need into the city systems. The engineer and architect have been working together, and have already found some ways to save costs. With Mr. Fink’s assistance, we are ensuring the steel work to be done will be bid on to our expectations. And we are getting ready for the dirt work phase to begin, which means we will have to break ground very soon!

Thank you God for continuing to provide for our needs. Thank you for answer to our prayer in providing resources we need through Mr. Fink’s added expertise and willing heart to serve you, and the greatly helpful engineer who has a desire to save us costs and see our project successful. We continue to look to you for your guidance in what we do, that we use our resources wisely, and that we are wise and knowledgeable in our discernment of the matters before us. Provide all this to us, according to your will. We praise you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

October Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:30:28 +0000

This past month the building team met with the architect to discuss construction drawings for the new church building, discuss the process for bidding out work, and working with engineers and contractors to refine the requirements for a cost-efficient design.

The building team is still searching for a general contractor who can assist us by managing the on-site construction process. And we are still under consideration where the church building will hook into the city water and sewage, choosing a company that will do the initial dirt work on the property, installing a storage shed on the property before general construction begins, and choosing a company to install the steel frames of the building. We are also still working through the annexation process to formally connect our new property into the City’s domain.

Please be in prayer with us over these matters we are considering. We pray that you God will guide us to make careful and wise decisions.
Bring to us resources to meet our needs, resources to assist us in making wise decisions, and resources to help us walk a clear path in the direction you have set for us. Amen.

September Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:10:10 +0000

This past month the building team reflected on the successful installation of the culvert and access drive onto the new property, and has been considering the next steps. It is expected that the property will be annexed into the City very soon (only some formalities are left), and there is consideration where the church building will hook into the city water and sewage. Also under consideration are finding a general contractor who can assist us by managing the on-site construction process, choosing a company that will do the initial dirt work on the property, installing a storage shed on the property before general construction begins, and choosing a company to install the steel frames of the building.

We are still on track with the grants we have, and are pursuing other grants. Working with local companies, we have been able to dramatically reduce the cost of our geothermal heating and cooling system while at the same time keeping within the parameters of the geothermal grant we have qualified for.

This month of September, the Building Team will be meeting with the architect to discuss these items as well as deciding how to proceed into the construction process. We are still on target for breaking ground this year. And what an exciting year this is!

Thank you God for bringing our church family together at such a time as this. As we work together to build your church to meet the needs of the congregation, community and world, bring forth our talents, time, and resources so that we may be used by you as your servants for the good of your kingdom. And as the many days of celebration come, may we lift up our praise and our joy and have a grand celebration in worship of you – for surely you have provided for all our needs. Amen.

August Building Upate

fbcworshipcenter — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:30:28 +0000

This past month, the Building Team has begun considering how FBC will prepare for construction. And we are still working with FBC’s Lawyer for the property annexation. We are investigating how we will store building supplies onsite during the construction of the church.
Currently we are considering renting a semi trailer or building a storage shed. We have decided to begin looking for a general contractor, perhaps who is retired, who can take charge of overseeing the onsite work ensuring we are on task throughout the construction project. The building team welcomes any suggestions from the church body on how we can prepare in these matters.

On Saturday July 30th, the building team installed a ninety foot culvert to provide an access drive onto the new church property. I woke up early that morning to prepare for my involvement. Over my breakfast, I thanked God for everything He has provided. I asked Him to work through us that day that He would be glorified. And I asked God to provide a good day with no rain and no sun.

I got onsite to meet with the rest of the volunteer team just after 7:00am. The morning sky was filled with dark clouds, but there was no rain. We had no problems getting the culvert installed that morning, with big help from Hank Richardson and his backhoe. The Lambert family, whose home is adjacent to the property, was a wonderful blessing providing refreshments all day, and lunch just before noon. I stayed until the very end that day. And just after 1:00pm we had completed our day’s work. I parted with joy in my heart, having had the peace of God all day. And as I drove away down Candy Lane, for the first time that day, the dark clouds were pushed away and the very hot sun came out. Praise God! I knew God had been with us that day. His answer to our prayers is His reassurance to us He is with us in our building project. Amen.

We are still on schedule for breaking ground for construction this year.

God bless us.

July Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:19:38 +0000

During the month of June, the Building Team has been working on the annexation of FBC’s property into the city. The team is planning the installation of culvert piping and the creation of the access drive onto the property from the road. The team has also been working with organizations to fit our construction requirements into the expectation of the grants we have received.

If there are any individuals who are interested in assisting with the installation of the culvert piping and the creation of the access drive, please contact Jim Richardson.

Please continue to pray for our Church, and for the Building Team, that we remain wise in Christ as we work towards building our new home from which to serve the community.

June Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:58:41 +0000

The congregation of First Baptist Church approved the proposal to build the new worship center in two phases at a special business meeting held May 22. The building team is now proceeding with the architect to obtain the necessary construction drawings and documents that we will need to begin the bid process. Our intent is to break ground later this summer or early fall.

This is a very important step for First Baptist Church. All of our planning revolves around this step being completed. The grants that we have already obtained, and others that we hope to obtain require a time line which could not be set until after the construction drawings are completed. We have spoken with many organizations and contractors who have expressed a desire to work with us, but also require the construction drawings to begin their planning and assistance on our project.

The two-phase plan for building the new church affords FBC a 1.5 million dollar phase-one goal which has been projected as ideal by FBC’s consultants and business advisers. We pray God is leading us wisely, having surrounded us with many experienced individuals who care about our church and have been independently concurring on this goal – it has been an answer to prayer. Trusting in God, we pray he will not only lead us to successfully complete phase-one, but also lead us into phase-two. We put the future of this Church, and all our needs for serving Him in this community, into His hands.

We are excited with anticipation at being able to reach out to the community and worship together in a place God is truly working through us to provide for us.

May Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:07:46 +0000

The building team is scheduling a meeting to present its progress to the congregation on May 22nd at 6:00pm. FBC must come to a conclusion on the construction plans before we can break ground and begin construction.

This past month the building team has continued to work with the architect and other professionals to devise the best plan and most cost effective solution for building the new church. There has been progress in devising the technical implementation in the building plans. It is in every effort that the new building is wisely planned, but also efficient and able for service on the first day we open the doors.

We have secured grants, are looking into obtaining more grants, and are beginning to receive money from other ABC churches. The team is connecting with other groups in the state which provide assistance, or which FBC can partner with in the design and construction of our building. Also, now that we have obtained grants, FBC is under a timeline for construction.

We pray earnestly that FBC follows close to God’s will so that we are prepared and ready to serve wisely with the resources He has given us.

Please pray with us, and for us, now. Please make every effort to attend the May 22nd meeting, and be ready to ask questions. God will speak His will through our Unity. Let’s work together to bring this planning stage to a close so we can move forward towards breaking ground this year.

April Building Update

fbcworshipcenter — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:25:57 +0000

This past month the Building Team has been working to raise funds, apply for grants, and plan the construction phase of the FBC building project.

FBC received a $50,000 grant from AIEC toward the geothermal system.

At this time, we have received donations from churches in Maine and New Hampshire. Continue to spread the word through email, facebook, letters etc. that we want to reach 200,000 people to donate $10 to our building project. For those who would like to contribute, give them the church address and have them put “Building Fund” in the memo of their check.

Our attorney is working on getting the property annexed into the city.

The building team has met with an Engineer to help advise us on how to initially proceed with the construction phase of our building project.

Since we have an expectation to break ground this year, the building team has decided to not farm the land as we will need the portion we will not build on for storage of supplies and other construction needs.

The building team continues to work with the Architect and FBC Leadership to have a final building design that is cost effective and meets all of FBC’s current and future needs.